Port Saint Lucie, Florida: History & Nature Working Together

7/28/2019 Port Saint Lucie, Florida: History & Nature Working Together

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A journey through time.

In a most unlikely place.

Spruce Bluff Preserve Southbend Lakes, Port St. Lucie, Florida

SpruceBluff


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Spruce Bluff

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n hn P S. L, n h Shbnd Lak aa. T a w pah ha pgh n Lk Bvad. h nh pa h pn mn.

T p a awm naby and amd n h 1890 n a had z n 1895

dahd h hp and n hm pakng.

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h nan and ak h a, hadng h, h Indan mnd. Bwa h wd. I n

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Trail entrance, heading south, toward the Ais Indian side of the preserve.


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Lookout Blvd. has a few hills, which are very unusual for this area.


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The old road, heading nor th. The road ends at a gate to Lookout Blvd., but there are numberedtrails leading to the settlers gravesite.


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Atop the 18-foot Ais Indian mound. Walking on the mound is illegal.


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One of two bridges that go over the marshes.


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The trail has many roots, which makes biking very difficult.


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During the drought of 2011, it was possible to walk all the way out. Now, the area is covered withabout two feet of water.


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A nice place to rest during the hike. Wildlife abounds.


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The trail has many wonders: Spanish moss, butterflies, flowers, oh my!


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Just to the east of the gravesite is a trail that leads to a beach overlooking the confluence of theC-24 Canal and the St. Lucie River. What a view!


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Gravesite at the pioneer settlement of Spruce Bluff. 1892.


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The settlers, circa 1894. The hard freeze of 1895 ended further development.

Spruce Bluff pioneersC.E. Schroeder, Harry E. Hill,

Frank Waner, Jim Nailor,Jake Padget, Ed L. Winter

and Charles B. Blakeslee

as seen in this 1894 photograph


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SpruceBluffText and photos by Jeff Macharyas www.macharyas.com

Port Saint Lucie, Florida: History & Nature Working Together

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